Cricket

Virat Kohli's century drought, spanning 1020 days and 83 innings, came to an end on September 8, 2022, during the Asia Cup Super 4 match against Afghanistan in Dubai. The Indian batting maestro, who had been struggling to find his rhythm in recent times, silenced his critics with a masterful knock of 122 off just 61 balls.Kohli's innings was a testament to his class and resilience. Opening the innings for India in the absence of Rohit Sharma, he seized the opportunity and played with a freedom that had been missing from his game for some time. His knock was a blend of power and finesse, as he effortlessly dispatched the Afghan bowlers to all parts of the ground.The century was Kohli's first in T20Is and his 71st across all formats internationally. It was also his first century since November 2019, when he scored a hundred against Bangladesh in a Test match.Kohli's unbeaten knock propelled India to an imposing total of 212 for 2, a target that proved insurmountable for Afghanistan. The Indian bowlers, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar's five-wicket haul, restricted Afghanistan to 111 for 8, securing a comfortable 101-run victory.Kohli's return to form is a major boost for India ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia. The former Indian captain has been a key figure in India's success in the shortest format of the game, and his return to form will give the team a much-needed confidence boost.

New Zealand will face Afghanistan in a one-off Test match starting on September 9, 2024, as part of their preparations for the upcoming World Test Championship challenges in the subcontinent. This will be New Zealand's first-ever Test against Afghanistan, who obtained Test status in 2017.New Zealand's recent subcontinent record has been underwhelming, with 40 losses in 90 matches. They will be keen to improve their performance in these conditions, especially with the marquee series against India approaching next month. Spin is expected to dominate proceedings, and New Zealand has come well-prepared with five slow bowling options.Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who returns to India for the first time since his 10-wicket haul in Mumbai in 2021, is expected to make the playing XI. Rachin Ravindra, who has been training in Chennai, is also likely to be included as an all-rounder. Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, and Michael Bracewell are vying for the remaining spinners' spots.Matt Henry is New Zealand's best seamer at the moment, but captain Tim Southee's dip in Test form is a concern. Will O'Rourke or express pacer Ben Sears may be given a go.Afghanistan, on the other hand, have played only nine Tests since gaining Test status. They have lost their last three Tests against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Ireland. However, they have managed to beat Ireland, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe in their brief Test journey.Afghanistan's squad for the Test includes experienced players like Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran, and Rahmat Shah. Seam-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai is likely to make his Test debut, while Zia-ur-Rehman, Zahir Khan, Khalil Ahmed, Qais Ahmad, Shahidullah Kamal, and Bahir Shah are the spin options.The match is likely to be affected by rain and thunderstorms throughout the week.

South Africa and Afghanistan are set to embark on a historic three-match ODI series in Sharjah from September 18 to 22. This marks the first-ever bilateral series between the two nations, a testament to the growing stature of Afghanistan cricket.The series was not initially part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP), but the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) reached an agreement to host the event. CSA Chairman Lawson Naidoo hailed the series as a "significant milestone" in the partnership between the two boards.Afghanistan's recent performances in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 and ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 have earned them widespread recognition as a competitive all-round team. Naidoo expressed excitement about facing such a formidable opponent.ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf echoed Naidoo's sentiments, stating that the series would provide Afghanistan with an opportunity to host and play against a top-ranked team like South Africa. He expressed hope for regular future encounters between the two nations.Before heading to the UAE, South Africa will face West Indies in a two-Test and three-T20I series in the Caribbean starting August 7. For Afghanistan, the South Africa series comes on the heels of their maiden Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida, India, scheduled for September 9 to 13.The South Africa-Afghanistan ODI series will provide both teams with valuable preparation ahead of their respective international commitments. South Africa will face Ireland in a two-T20I and three-ODI series in Abu Dhabi starting September 27, while Afghanistan will participate in the Asia Cup 2024 in September.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has expressed his frustration over being dropped for the crucial T20 World Cup Super Eights match against Afghanistan, stating that he was not amused by the team management's decision. The 2021 T20 World Cup champions suffered a shocking 21-run loss to Afghanistan, which dealt a massive blow to Australia's chances of entering the semifinals.Starc was replaced by Ashton Agar for the match, but the left-arm spinner, despite tying down the Afghanistan batters, could not take any wickets. "No — two World Cups in a row," Starc was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald on Willow Talk podcast when quizzed about his omission and whether he was amused by the decision. "Just the match-up, they (team management) saw previous games on that ground in St Vincent with spin playing a part and obviously Ash (Ashton) and the left-armer enticing them to make a change," he added.This was the second occasion in a row where the Australian pacer was dropped for a T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan, with the previous one being in Adelaide in 2022 where also the hosts failed to reach the last four stage. Agar and the two Australian pace spearheads, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, were unable to break the partnership between openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, who ended up making 118 runs."I think Ash bowled pretty well in the powerplay. They probably played the spin quite well and batting first probably assessed the conditions a little bit better than we did, and had a couple of stumbles that in the end cost us the game," said Starc. "It was probably the fielding that cost us again that game. That meant we had to win against India and we fell short there as well."Australia then went on to lose to India in Super Eights and were later eliminated from the competition. Starc also expressed his displeasure with the scheduling of the tournament and pre seeding that saw them advance to the pre determined group despite topping the group stage. "We finished ahead of England (in the group stage) and end up where we were pre-seeded as the second side. All of a sudden, you're in a different group.""The argument was it was because it was so hard to get around the West Indies, so fans knew where your team was playing. "So then why don't you have the chock-a-block tournament at the front... and then spread it out at the back end? We had the two night games and the third was a day game, so it wasn't the best preparation. We had a delayed flight out of St Vincent, it was a 90-minute drive from the airport to the hotel in St Lucia, and then we had a 10 o'clock toss. He added that the travelling between venues in the West Indies is always difficult. "I think that was probably maybe a misread [by organisers], the fact that the front half of the tournament was more spread out, and then you hit the super eights and … travel around the West Indies is probably not the easiest thing to do, certainly not to travel home from.”

South Africa's maiden T20 World Cup final berth has been secured after a dominant nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the semifinals. Despite the challenging pitch at the Brian Lara Academy stadium, the Proteas' quicks delivered a stellar performance, bowling out Afghanistan for a mere 56 runs.Captain Aiden Markram expressed his relief at not having to play on the same pitch again, acknowledging its unpredictable nature. However, he praised his team's ability to adapt and find a way to win on a difficult surface."It's hard to tell that a wicket is not good because it can't just always be a batter's game," Markram said. "But finding a way to win is probably the most important thing."The Proteas' victory was built on a strong bowling performance, with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje leading the charge. Afghanistan's batters struggled to cope with the movement and pace, managing only 56 runs in 10.4 overs.Markram highlighted the importance of winning close games in the group and Super Eights stages, which boosted their confidence. He also acknowledged the team's past failures in global events but emphasized that the current squad is focused on the present opportunity."We feel and believe that we can compete with the best in the world and we can win trophies," Markram said. "It's nice for us to now have that opportunity."The Proteas will now face either India or England in the final in Barbados. Markram emphasized the need to adapt to the different conditions and play to their strengths."We'll try to find ways to always take wickets with the ball and from a batting point of view try to get to a score that's defendable," he said. "Both teams have to play on the same wicket."Markram also praised Afghanistan's impressive run in the tournament, acknowledging their talented players and the inspiration they have provided."They have some of the best (players) in the world at the moment," Markram said. "I'm sure it's not going to be the end of them making knockout cricket."

Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib's Dramatic Fall Raises Questions of SportsmanshipIn a controversial incident during the T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Gulbadin Naib's sudden collapse on the field sparked both amusement and outrage. The incident occurred in the 12th over, with Bangladesh trailing on the Duckworth-Lewis par score.As Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott signaled to his players to slow down the game, Naib, fielding in the slip cordon, complained of cramps. However, commentators and former players questioned the genuineness of his discomfort, as it coincided with Trott's request to slow down the pace."The coach sends a message out to say slow it down, slow it down and the first slip just dives on the ground needlessly. That is unacceptable," said commentator Simon Doull.Zimbabwean commentator Pommie Mbangwa quipped, "Oscar, Emmy?"Social media erupted with reactions, with many accusing Naib of feigning injury to avoid Bangladesh's victory on the DLS method. "This is cheating from Afghanistan," tweeted Imran Siddique.Naib was treated and taken off the field, but returned after a rain delay. He even dismissed Tanzim Hasan in the 15th over, reducing Bangladesh to 92 for 8.The incident drew criticism from former players. India's Ravichandran Ashwin tweeted, "Red card for Gulbadin Naib." Michael Vaughan wrote, "Great to see Gulbadin become the first cricketer in the history of the game to get a wicket 25 mins after being shot..."Ian Smith added, "I've a dodgy knee for the last 6 months, I am gonna see Gulbadin Naib's doctor straight after the game. He's the 8th wonder of the world right now."Despite the controversy, Afghanistan eventually prevailed by eight runs to enter their maiden World Cup semifinal. However, the incident has raised questions about the spirit of the game and the ethics of using tactics to manipulate the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian all-rounder, has come to the defense of Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib, who has faced criticism for his actions during the T20 World Cup Super 8 match against Bangladesh. Afghanistan made history by reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup for the first time.During the match, Naib allegedly faked an injury after coach Jonathan Trott signaled for him to slow down. Afghanistan was ahead on DLS when rain interrupted the match. Naib immediately collapsed to the ground. While his antics initially sparked laughter, fans and experts later accused him of cheating.However, Ashwin, who had initially joked that Naib should receive a red card, has now defended the player. He emphasized that Naib was playing for the entire nation of Afghanistan. "Gulbadin Naib fell that way. Everyone said that is a penalizable offense. But what the hell, man? The guy is playing for his country, trying to win a World Cup, qualify," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.Ashwin further argued that all the players in the Afghanistan team were playing for each other and for their country. He praised their unity, saying, "In Afghanistan, it is not just momentum. It is a country with so much hope. They are playing for one another. This playing for one another, we can say a thousand things about it. We can say it to so many people. Doesn't India play for one another? For the badge? Of course. But Afghanistan, at this stage of their cricketing journey, are playing for one another like I have never seen anything like this."Ahead of Afghanistan's first T20 World Cup semi-final appearance, head coach Jonathan Trott expressed confidence in his team. "We go into the semifinal with no scarring or no history. This is uncharted territory for us. But, by no means, do we feel like we're going into the semifinal just to compete. We're there to win the semifinal. We've beaten some major teams," Trott said after the victory over Bangladesh.

South Africa's maiden T20 World Cup final appearance is within reach after their emphatic nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the first semifinal. Skipper Aiden Markram urged his team to remain composed and fearless ahead of the title clash.Markram hailed his bowlers for restricting Afghanistan to a paltry 56 runs. "We were brilliant with the ball, got it in the right areas and kept it really simple," he said. "The bowlers have been incredible for us."The batting, however, faced some challenges on a pitch offering pronounced seam movement. "It was challenging with the bat, as no batter is going to lie and tell you it was easy out there," Markram admitted. "We had a bit of luck and then got a bit of a partnership."Markram expressed relief at the comfortable victory. "We have had a few close games and a few people back home would have woken up early with more grey hairs. Glad today was a bit more comforting," he added.Player of the match Marco Jansen, who claimed three early wickets, emphasized their focus on accuracy. "Awesome feeling. The guys played really well, we executed perfectly," he said. "We just wanted to stick to our plan, bowl good lengths and see how the wicket reacts."Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan expressed disappointment but acknowledged the team's progress. "It was tough for us as a team. We might have done better but the conditions didn't allow us to do what we wanted," he said. "That's how T20 cricket is, you need to be ready for all conditions."Khan believes the tournament has been a valuable learning experience for his side. "It is just the beginning for us, we have the confidence and belief to beat any side," he said. "We just need to keep our processes. This has been a great learning experience for us."

The highly anticipated first semi-final of the 2024 T20 World Cup between South Africa and Afghanistan commenced with a thrilling start. Afghanistan, after winning the toss, opted to bat first on a fresh pitch that promised both spin and seam.South Africa's Marco Jansen struck early, dismissing the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over. However, Gulbadin Naib responded with a crisp boundary off Jansen, followed by a four off Keshav Maharaj. Ibrahim Zadran also contributed with a boundary, giving Afghanistan a solid start.Maharaj, introduced into the attack, bowled with accuracy, keeping the Afghan batters in check. Naib, however, continued to impress, pulling a boundary through mid-on. Zadran also showed his class, lofting Maharaj over mid-on for another four.As the innings progressed, Afghanistan's middle order struggled to find momentum. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi were dismissed cheaply, leaving the onus on the lower order. Karim Janat and Rashid Khan provided some resistance, but South Africa's bowlers maintained their discipline.In the end, Afghanistan managed to post a respectable total of 144/8, with Naib top-scoring with 35 runs. Jansen was the pick of the South African bowlers, claiming 3/25, while Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada chipped in with two wickets each.South Africa, in response, will be confident of chasing down the target, given their impressive batting lineup. However, Afghanistan's spinners, led by Rashid Khan, will pose a significant threat. The match promises to be a close and exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure a place in the final.